The Library Reference Services Division was established by Council on June 21, 1956.

+

The Library Reference Services Division was established by Council on June 21, 1956. Later known as the Reference Services Division (RSD) it was formed through a merger of the reference sections of the Public Libraries Division and the Association of College and Reference Libraries, also divisions of the ALA.

+

+

The Adult Services Division (ASD) was established by the ALA Council at the 1957 Midwinter Meeting as the Adult Education Division. The name was changed and responsibilities of the division were broadened by Council action at the 1957 Annual Conference. Its activities grew out of the work of the Adult Education Section of the Public Libraries Division and of the ALA Adult Education Board.

+

+

In 1966 ASD and RSD together formed the interdivisional Common Concerns Committee. An equal number of members from each division was appointed to serve on this committee. Between 1966 and 1971 it made attempts to determine areas of possible overlap between the two divisions by studying the committee structure of both. At the 1972 Midwinter Meeting, the ALA Council voted that “the Adult Services Division and the Reference Services Division be merged into a single division with the tentative name of of “Reference and Adult Services Division.

+

+

The Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD) became Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) in the fall of 1996.

+

+

Andrew M. Hansen, a past executive director of RASD, wrote a [http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaourassoc/rasdhistory/rasdhistory1.htm history] of the division in 1995.

Latest revision as of 22:19, 14 February 2007

The Library Reference Services Division was established by Council on June 21, 1956. Later known as the Reference Services Division (RSD) it was formed through a merger of the reference sections of the Public Libraries Division and the Association of College and Reference Libraries, also divisions of the ALA.

The Adult Services Division (ASD) was established by the ALA Council at the 1957 Midwinter Meeting as the Adult Education Division. The name was changed and responsibilities of the division were broadened by Council action at the 1957 Annual Conference. Its activities grew out of the work of the Adult Education Section of the Public Libraries Division and of the ALA Adult Education Board.

In 1966 ASD and RSD together formed the interdivisional Common Concerns Committee. An equal number of members from each division was appointed to serve on this committee. Between 1966 and 1971 it made attempts to determine areas of possible overlap between the two divisions by studying the committee structure of both. At the 1972 Midwinter Meeting, the ALA Council voted that “the Adult Services Division and the Reference Services Division be merged into a single division with the tentative name of of “Reference and Adult Services Division.

The Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD) became Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) in the fall of 1996.

Andrew M. Hansen, a past executive director of RASD, wrote a history of the division in 1995.